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For Immediate Release

Statement of Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2003 - Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch today issued the following statement regarding the postponement of the 2003 Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy with Robert Redford. The event was to be held Tuesday evening, March 25, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

"In light of the current world situation, after discussions with Robert
Redford and The Film Foundation, we have jointly decided to postpone this year's Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy. Mr. Redford's lecture will be rescheduled for later this year.

"We firmly believe that at times like these it is more important than
ever to state our commitment to the arts and the organizations that
support them to members of Congress. The House and Senate are in session, conducting business as usual, and engaging in their annual budget debate for the next fiscal year. Therefore, Arts Advocacy Day activities are still scheduled to go on next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-26, on Capitol Hill, and grassroots arts advocates intend to present the case for the value of the arts to America and the need for financial support of the federal cultural agencies and other arts policy issues."

Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With a 40-year record of service, it is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.  Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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